JD Wetherspoon to Delete Social Media – How will this decision affect them?
JD Wetherspoon has announced this week that they are going to be closing all of their social media accounts for individual pubs and head office. The firm said their decision was influenced by concerns on “misuse of personal data” and “the addictive nature of social media”.
How could this decision affect them?
- Communication – The main form of communication these days is social media. If a consumer is disappointed in the service they have received, they are likely to post their feelings on social media. With Wetherspoon’s no longer on social media, they are unable to reply to any negative attention they may be getting. Replying to negative posts and comments means the company is acknowledging the comment and taking it on board, so a lack of reply could impact negatively on the reputation of the company.
- Promotion – For a brand like Wetherspoon’s, who often have promotions and deals, social media allows them to communicate these promotions to a wider audience. The brand has stated that they will continue to release news stories and information about forthcoming events on their website and in their printed magazine. However, not being present on social media reduces the audience they are reaching with their marketing.
- Audience – By deleting social media, JD Wetherspoon is limiting the audience they reach with their marketing. The brand doesn’t have a massive following on social media as it has hundreds of different social media accounts for each branch. If they were to focus their efforts on one social media account for the brand as a whole, they could reach a larger audience and improve their posts.
Will other brands follow?
The chain’s Chairman Tim Martin said he hopes that other brands don’t follow their decision. They feel they have “a massive commercial advantage because everyone else is wasting hours of their time” on social media.
